Rail-joint.



J A G R E E R.

IIIIIIII T.

' APPLICATION D APR. I916. 1,232,286. Patented July 3, 1917.

2 EEEEEEEEEEEE I.

J. A. GREER.

RAIL JOINT.

APPLICATION FlLED APR. 7. 1916. 1,232,286. Patented July 3, 1917.

2 sHEETS-SHEET 2.

JAMES A. GREER, DE SAN ERANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE RAIL JOINTCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OIE NEW YORK.

BAIL-JOINT.

T0 aZZ whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, JAMES A. GREER, a citizen of the United States,residing at San Franoisco, in the county of San Francisco and State ofCalifornia, have invented certain neW and useful Improvements inRail-Joints, of Which the following is a specification. 7

This invention relatesto rail joints, and more particularly to animprovement in joi z}1ts of the character adapted to high T m1 5.

Primarily the present inventioncontemplates a supplemental strengtheningunit for rail joints,and although fundamentally useful in connectionwith joint bars for rails known as the high T type, generally utilizedin street railway construction, the invention may also be employed inconnection vvitln joint bars of'other types where it is desired t0strengthen or-reinforce the same. Furthermore, this improvement isintended to possess special utility in its application to used railjoints.

Accordingly, the present invention has in view a novel auxiliaryconstruction for rail joints, whereby the strength of joint bars in usemay be materially augmented, while at the same time the entireefiioiency of the joint increased by providing a base support for therails, thus giving renevved stability at a minimum cost. In thisconnection, it Will be apparent that the invention is of practical andeconomical importance, since it makes provision for increasing the lifeand strength of used rail joints.

With the above and other objects in view which Wlll more readily appearas the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consistsin the novel construction, and the combination and arrangement of partshereinafter more fully described, illustrated and claimed.

A preferred and practical embodiment of the invention is shown in theaccompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical transverse sectional view taken at the end of arail joint on a high T rail showing the application of the presentinvention thereto,

Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1 showing the application of theinvention to an ordi nary rail joint.

Similar references designate correspond- Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed April 7, 1916.

Patented July 3, 1917.

Serial No. 89,694.

ingparts throughout the several parts of the dravvings.

In Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing there is shown a rail R of theconventional high T type, having the usual type angle bars A and B ateach side thereof to constitute With the bolts C and D, the usual jointfor connecting the rails. Under severe traffie conditions, andparticularly in certain locations in a track, rail joints ofthecharacter specified require added strength and stability and the presentinvention therefore proposes to accomplish this desirable result by theuse of a supplementary strengthening unit Which may be readil applied tothe joint without alteration thereof. The saicl supplementarystrengthening unit primarily includes a shoe angle member 1, of the wellknown Weber type, which comprises an upstanding vertical web member 2and a horizontal base member 3, the latter. member being adapted tounderlie the rail ends. In addition to the metal shoe angle thestrengthening unit utilizes a wooden or equivalent compressible fillerblock4, proferably of a reversible type. And this filler block isarranged at the inner side of the upright member 2 of the shoe angle.

In order to complete the supplementary strengthening unit and render thesame entirely effective for its intended purpose there is combined withthe compressible filler block 4 a metal guard plate designated by thenumeral 5. This guard plate is adapted to be arranged over the innerside of the filler member so as to be interposed between the latter andthe outer side of one of the joint bars, so that vvhen the joint boltsare tightened up the filler member Will be clamped under compressionbetvveen the upright member of the shoe angle and the side guard plate,and the latter Will be directly and rigidly clamped against the outerside of the said splice member. It is by reason of this particularrelation of parts that the said supplementary strengthening unit greatlyadds to the strength and stability of the used joint, and with furtherreference to the metal guard plate 5 it Will be observed that the sameis provided at its upper and lovver edges vvith the outturned inclinedholding fianges 6 and 7 respectively, which flanges have an engagementwith and fit the correspondingly inclined or beveled faces 8 and 9respectively of the woodn or equivalent compressible filler 4. Thisformation provides a guard plate of the channeled form, the cliannel ofwhich snugly registers withone side of the compressible filler, and theupper holding fiange 6 subserves the function of a restraining clamentto prevent the compressible filler from being crushed and distorted outof shapethrough the turning of the joint bo lts. Inconnection:

with the mounting of the channcl guard plate:; a furthen f eature of theinvention resides in forming said plate witlt thetbolt ho;les 10 and 11adapted to aline.withthe bOltsh0lS in the Various other parts-ofthejoint,- andwhich bolt holes 10- and1laare approxnately the-diameter ofthe bolts themselves; sodas: to closely: fit the latter wherebytheboltsserve .to retain the= guard plate -firmly in position :so that it-Will eflec= ranged ,at one sideof the jointand essen tially comprisesthe angle shoe 1 having the Vertical web member 2 and liorizontal base3, said vertical member 2 coperating with a fillr block 4 and metalguard plate 5 in the same manner that'the simil&ar partsdo in theconstruction shoWn'iriFig. 1.

The construction described not only secures the desirable resultsreferred to, but the util ization of the compressible filler in theconibiriation specified contri13utcs*tthe resiliency of the joint andimparts to the latter some of the well known characteristics of theWeber-type oi: rail jointwnhioh employs a filler of that character.

1. A: supp{lementary strengthening unit for rail joints comprising, dn-combmation with:the= joint: bars and the joint bolts, a shoe angle, afiller block arranged at-the inner side of the shoe angle, and a guardplate interposed between the filler blockand one ,of the:j oint bars.

2.::In a :railjoint, the combination with the rails, the joint bars andthe joint bolts, of a supplementary strengthening ;unit com prising;:ashoe -angle,afillenblock, and a guardplate, the said gnardplate closelyfittingthebolts and having holding fianges at its npper and lower edgesto engageth fillerblock.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afliX my signatrein the presence of twowitnesses.

J AMES Ai GREER.

Vitnesses ALFRED M. ESKRIDGE,

B; 'GREER;

Copies of,this patent may:be obtained for five centseach,byadflressngthe -GommssionerofPatents,

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